Conard is no. 6 and Hall is no. 13, with both in the top 1,000 nationally in the 2016 U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of more than 28,000 public high schools.

By Ronni Newton

The annual ranking of public high schools was announced Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report, and once again West Hartford was well-represented with both Conard and Hall appearing in the top 15 for Connecticut schools.

Conard was ranked no. 6 in the state, and Hall was no. 13 in the 2016 rankings. With a no. 309 national ranking, Conard earned the gold medal distinction that is awarded to the top 500 schools nationwide. At no. 558, Hall earned a silver medal.

“Both schools are excellent schools that offer college-level and challenging courses,” West Hartford Superintendent of Schools Tom Moore said Tuesday.

“Once again we are thrilled that both of our schools ranked so highly in U.S. News & World Report,” Moore said. However, he added, “While this is validation for both of our schools, these measures only scratch the surface of what makes our schools great.”

Moore said that West Hartford’s schools are about the “quality of the character of our students” and not just the test scores. For anyone who questions the rankings, “I invite you to come to Pops ‘n Jazz, or Unified Theater, or any sporting event to see the pride and success that is our students every single day,” Moore said.

Conard’s ranking for 2016 is in part due to the school’s score in the “College Readiness” category. Conard earned a 63.5 rating in that category, based on 77 percent of students taking an average of 3.9 AP Exams and 72 percent earning a passing score. Hall also earned high marks for “College Readiness” with a 53.7 (67 percent tested on an average of 3.2 exams with 74 percent passing).

The top three schools in the Connecticut ranking – Connecticut IB Academy in East Hartford, Academy of Aerospace and Engineering in Hartford, and Amistad Academy in New Haven – are either magnet or charter schools.

In the 2015 ranking, Conard was no. 4 in Connecticut and Hall was no. 12. Conard was no. 203 nationwide and Hall was no. 450.

A total of 28,561 schools were reviewed for the initial part of the 2016 study, using methodology established by North Carolina-based RTI International, a global nonprofit social science research firm that partners with U.S. News & World Report for the ranking.

This year’s ranking followed a four-step process that for the first time included graduation rates as the third step in the calculation, requiring a benchmark of at least 68 percent. “Schools that made it through the first three steps became eligible to be judged nationally on the final step – college-readiness performance – using Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate test data as the benchmark for success,” according to U.S. News & World Report.

Conard has a graduation rate of 96 percent, and Hall’s rate is 98 percent.

“Today, just like yesterday, I’m immensely proud to be associated with West Hartford Public Schools, not just as a career but as a parent in this community,” said Moore.

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